PHUKET: It's time for action if Phuket wants to fix its tourist rip-offs, Tourism Authority of Thailand regional director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon told a meeting in Phuket City today.
Her call for Phuket's authorities to do their jobs came after 90 minutes of committee talk among 37 authorities or their representatives at Provincial Hall today.
As the TAT's regional representative for Phuket, Khun Bangornrat knows what Phuket needs. Usually she is demure and diplomatic. Today, after an hour and a half of still more committee discussion, with some participants clearly perplexed about what to do, she made her thoughts plain.
''Everybody knows what Phuket's problems are for tourists,'' she said. ''Jet-skis, tuk-tuks, taxis, touts. We know these things.
''Instead of talking, we need to act. These are urgent issues. It doesn't take a committee of 37 to resolve them. Those who can solve these issues should do their jobs immediately.''
She said the national government was looking closely at Phuket and its problems and the authorities responsible needed to be seen to be taking effective action.
Earlier, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong said that cause and effect needed to be looked at to avoid ''domino'' issues that could spark more problems.
While the police were being pressured to solve the tuk-tuk and taxi issue, the cause was actually Phuket's lack of public transport.
The committee was established earlier this year to look at issues relating to tourism: public transport; tailor and time share touts; Sitting guides and environment/garbage/bad water.
Today was the first gathering since an inaugural meeting at the Tourist Police offices in Phuket City on July 20.
While today's committee meeting was taking place, local taxis in southern Phuket blockaded a resort for more than two hours because an unauthorised taxi had been called.
As long ago as April last year, Khun Bangornrat told Phuketwan: ''We are concerned about the tuk-tuk problem. Public transport for Phuket is the first priority.''
Has there been an increase in complaints? ''Mostly they are about tuk-tuks,'' she said. ''But there are others about over-charging. Over-charging is the main point that brings complaints.''
Her call for Phuket's authorities to do their jobs came after 90 minutes of committee talk among 37 authorities or their representatives at Provincial Hall today.
As the TAT's regional representative for Phuket, Khun Bangornrat knows what Phuket needs. Usually she is demure and diplomatic. Today, after an hour and a half of still more committee discussion, with some participants clearly perplexed about what to do, she made her thoughts plain.
''Everybody knows what Phuket's problems are for tourists,'' she said. ''Jet-skis, tuk-tuks, taxis, touts. We know these things.
''Instead of talking, we need to act. These are urgent issues. It doesn't take a committee of 37 to resolve them. Those who can solve these issues should do their jobs immediately.''
She said the national government was looking closely at Phuket and its problems and the authorities responsible needed to be seen to be taking effective action.
Earlier, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong said that cause and effect needed to be looked at to avoid ''domino'' issues that could spark more problems.
While the police were being pressured to solve the tuk-tuk and taxi issue, the cause was actually Phuket's lack of public transport.
The committee was established earlier this year to look at issues relating to tourism: public transport; tailor and time share touts; Sitting guides and environment/garbage/bad water.
Today was the first gathering since an inaugural meeting at the Tourist Police offices in Phuket City on July 20.
While today's committee meeting was taking place, local taxis in southern Phuket blockaded a resort for more than two hours because an unauthorised taxi had been called.
As long ago as April last year, Khun Bangornrat told Phuketwan: ''We are concerned about the tuk-tuk problem. Public transport for Phuket is the first priority.''
Has there been an increase in complaints? ''Mostly they are about tuk-tuks,'' she said. ''But there are others about over-charging. Over-charging is the main point that brings complaints.''
Yawn, getting bored with this now!!!!
Posted by phuket madness on September 8, 2011 16:22